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11. We are of opinion that all Inspectors of Police should be acquainted with at least one dialect of Chinese, and that in the Charge Room there should be always one European Inspector or Sergeant competent to receive a complaint without the assistance of an interpreter.
The Committee consider this a point of great importance, as a competent Police Officer who would be able to converse with the complainant would soon, we feel, be able to elicit much information, which at present we think is not forthcoming or obtained.
All necessary inducements and facilities should therefore be offered to Constables to learn Chinese.
12. A competent staff of translators with a European at its head should be obtained as soon as possible. With respect to the other Government Offices we are of opinion that if our suggestions are followed, and the class of persons we have indicated are attracted to the service, all difficulties respecting interpretation will disappear.
13. In view of the statement made by Mr. CALDWELL respecting the objections there are to allowing the person who is to act as interpreter to receive complaints, a statement which, though difficult of proof, we believe to be well founded, we would recommend that, until a European Clerk is available for the purpose of receiving complaints, Mr. BALL should as much as possible attend to this duty, and if our recommendation respecting Messrs. HAZELAND and HOLWORTHY be approved of by Government and accepted by these gentlemen, one of them should attend when Mr. BALL is engaged in Court.
7th September, 1887.
Eow. J. ACKROYD.
Chairman.
A. LISTER.
A. P. MacEWEN.
J. CHALMERS.
E. J. EITEL.